Third wheel

In this era of coalition politics, it has become a practice for parties and politicians to join hands for mutual benefit (“‘Breakfast meet to chart alternative policy course”, Feb. 10). It is interesting to note that such coalitions are purely electoral in nature and seem to have little relation to any coinciding principles or a common vision for the nation.

Such disparate mergers cannot be expected to have long-term survival rates as each partner, whose differing ideology manifests itself as the coalition’s non-durability, will pull the party in a different direction. Cobbling together such political marriages will only make the nation’s political space a mess. Even if the alternative wins a majority, as many prime ministerial candidates as the number of allies will keep emerging.

The informed citizen would do well to vote into power a single dependable party; if an alliance, a longstanding one.

H.R. Sreepada Bhagi,

Bangalore

The aspiring third political alternative must spell out a common minimum programme to set the electorate’s worries — over how it will be different from the incumbent options — at ease. If anti-communalism is their proposed motto, the alternative must establish its

modus operandi for rooting out corruption and promoting unity among peoples. It must make known its foreign policy and proposed solutions to existing international disputes. If the new conglomeration is unable to infuse confidence in the minds of voters, it will be just another brick in the political wall.

K. Panchapagesan,

Bangalore